This is the UFC 102 live blog for Brandon Vera vs. Krzysztof Soszynski, a light-heavyweight bout on the pay-per-view card.The well-rounded Vera is making his fourth trip into the Octagon as a 205er against the rising Team Quest fighter Soszynski, who is currently 3-0 in the UFC.
The live blog is below.
Round 1: Soszynksi comes forward with left and rights that don't connect. Vera looks like he is trying to set up his left hand. He lands a nice leg kick. Vera connects with a knee. Vera sneaks in another leg kick. Soszynksi steps back to dodge a Vera one-two. They clinch with Soszynksi pressing Vera against the cage. They break and Vera lands an inside leg kick. Soszynksi jumps forward with a looping right hand. Soszynksi is bleeding from his left cheek. They clinch, this time with Soszynksi against the fence. Vera works knees, and Soszynksi responds with the same. Soszynksi shoots with 16 seconds left but Vera defends. 10-9 Vera
Round 2: They box and Vera is confident in his standup. They clinch and Soszynksi evades a knee upon separation. Seconds later they are back in clinch. Vera has the Muay Thai clinch but is unable to capitalize. Vera sneaks though an uppercut. Soszynksi tries for the takedown but gets his head caught. He escapes. Vera lands a left punch. Soszynksi has clinch and decides to drop for the double leg. Vera defends. Back to clinch with Vera against the fence. Soszynksi finally gets the takedown with 56 seconds remaining in the round. Vera gets up with the help of a single-leg, and they resume clinchwork. Soszynksi blocks two elbows at the sound of the bell. 10-9 Vera Round 3: Vera is too fast for Soszynksi to land with his hands. Vera spins for a kick. In clinch, Soszynksi digs for the double leg and Vera stops it by attempting a kimura. They trade knees in clinch. Vera gets the takedown at 2:46. Vera lands right punches while controlling Soszynksi. Soszynksi stands up and they return to the clinch position. A time out is called for an accidental low blow and Soszynksi gets a breather. Soszynksi scores with a leg kick. Vera with uppercuts in clinch. Soszynksi fires off punches but Vera moves off. Vera lands front kicks. Vera with a leg kick before the bell. Vera is simply the better striker and Soszynksi couldn't get anything going. 10-9 Vera
Vera wins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
UFC 102 Photos
PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Randy Couture (Bottom) battles UFC fighter Antonio Nogueira (Top) during their Heavyweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Randy Couture;Antonio Nogueira
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PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Randy Couture (Bottom) battles UFC fighter Antonio Nogueira (Top) during their Heavyweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Randy Couture;Antonio Nogueira
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PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Antonio Nogueira (L) battles UFC fighter Randy Couture (R) during their Heavyweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Antonio Nogueira;Randy Couture
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PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Antonio Nogueira (L) battles UFC fighter Randy Couture (R) during their Heavyweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Antonio Nogueira;Randy Couture
Getty Images
PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Antonio Nogueira (L) battles UFC fighter Randy Couture (R) during their Heavyweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Antonio Nogueira;Randy Couture
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PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Chris Leben (L) battles UFC fighter Jake Rosholt (R) during their Middleweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Leben;Jake Rosholt
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PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Nate Marquardt (L) knocks out UFC fighter Demian Maia (R) during their Middleweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nate Marquardt;Demian Maia
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PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Nate Marquardt (L) knocks out UFC fighter Demian Maia (R) during their Middleweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nate Marquardt;Demian Maia
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PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Nate Marquardt (L) knocks out UFC fighter Demian Maia (R) during their Middleweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nate Marquardt;Demian Maia
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PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Nate Marquardt (L) battles UFC fighter Demian Maia (R) during their Middleweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nate Marquardt;Demian Maia
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